Coaster



Sept, 24, 1940. CAMPBELL ESTER GOA Filed April 18, 1938 INVENTOR. flaw Mel! Patented Sept. 24, 1940 PATENT OFFECE COASTER.

Layard L. Campbell, Bronxville, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1938, Serial No. 202,808

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in coasters.

Objects Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a coaster having means whereby a goblet or the like will be removably held secure therein; to provide means within the coaster for absorbing moisture released from the goblet or the like; to be enabled to readily remove the goblet or the like from the coaster; to prevent a goblet or the like from becoming disengaged from a coaster while in use; to provide a coaster having means to snugly retain a tumbler or the like therein; to be enabled to remove the tumbler or the like from the coaster when desired; to be enabled to replace the moisture absorbing means when desired; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results from the following description.

Drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved coaster showing a goblet or the like held in place therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the coaster alone, showing the means whereby a goblet or the like is held therein;

Figure 3 and Figure 4 are sectional views shown 'as taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of s Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of another form of coaster with a tumbler or the like held therein;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5 with the tumbler or the like in elevation; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the coaster and showing in detail the means for engaging the tumbler or the like and holding the same snugly therein.

Description In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, and alluding initially to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the reference numeral l indicates, in general, a coaster of my invention constructed more particularly for association with a conventional goblet ll having a stem I2 and foot I3. The coaster is shown to be circular in the drawing, to agree with the conventional circular shape of said foot l3 of the goblet, but it is to be understood that other shapes may be employed under the broad concept of the invention. The said coaster preferably provides a solid bottom wall M the periphery of which curls upward to provide an upstanding side wall I which in turn curls inward as at l6 at its upper edge to provide a narrow inwardly directed rim. The inside diameter of the coaster at its rim I6 is greater than the maximum diameter of the foot l3 of the goblet ll, so that the said foot may be readily inserted into the coaster and may rest upon the said bottom wall I4 thereof. Likewise, the height of the upstanding side wall is greater than the height of the foot l3 so that the said foot will be entirely within the coaster when resting on said bottom wall.

It is a well known fact that goblets will sweat, and coasters have been heretofore employed to permit the condensation to pass into the coaster and not cause any damage to the table or other surfaces where the goblet is rested. However, the condensation accumulating in the coaster or upon the foot of the goblet when it is raised for drinking purposes is frequently suflicient that it will drip from the goblet when the same is raised from the coaster for drinking or other purposes. This results, prior to the present invention, in the drops of water or of overflow from the goblet when such occurs, dripping onto the table or else-.*

where. According to the present invention, dripping is avoided by mounting the coaster upon the foot of the goblet so that, when the goblet is raised, the coaster is also raised and continues to retain and collect the condensation on the outside3 3 of the goblet as well as any overflow from the goblet. In accomplishing this result, I preferably provide a spring retainer l! as part of the coaster and of a character which will engage the goblet andretain the coaster and goblet togetheri- The retainer'shown in the figures now being described is preferably'of wire construction, having a configuration very similar to a hairpin, or, more explicitly having a pair of legs l8, I8 substantially of a length equal to the diameter of the coaster and integrally formed by an end or cross portion IS. The retainer is preferably of resilient metal and constructed to tend to normally spread the legs apart, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The outer or free ends of the retainer preferably curl upwardly as at 20 for obtaining appropriate contact with the said wall of the coaster and to underlie the said rim I6 when said legs l8, l8 are spread apart. The parts are so proportioned that, when said legs are squeezed together, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 2, the said free ends 20, 20 no longer underlie the rim l6 and accordingly may be swung upward as shown in Fig. 3. This enables the goblet to be tilted and slid out of the coaster with the stem [2 moving laterally in the general direction toward the free end of the said retainer. It is to be understood that the side wall l5 of the coaster preferably provides holes 2 l 2| at one part thereof preferably spaced apart and at suitable elevation. Bottom wall l4 for receiving legs l8, I8 therethrough, by virtue of which the cross-connecting or end portion I9 is at the outside of the coaster, thereby avoiding likelihood of the retainer becoming separated fromthe. coaster. Inasmuch as legs I8, l8 tend to normally spread apart, movement of the retainer outwardly through holes 2!, 2! requires exertion of a force to squeeze the legs toward each other. Likewise, there is a tendency 'for the retainer to workinwardly as a result of this inherent urge of the legs to spread apart, and it is found in practice that the free ends of the legs will seat and remain seated under rim IS against side wall IS without any probability of inadvertent displacement. The goblet and coaster, by virtue of the retainer overlying foot I3 and at opposite sides of stem l2 are thus held assembled and the coaster is raised and lowered with the corresponding raising and lowering of the goblet. However, when desired to remove the goblet from the coaster, for washing or other purposes it is simply accomplished by squeezing the ends of legs l8, l8 toward each other and raising them as above described.

It is a further feature of the present invention to prevent any accumulation of liquid in the coaster from spilling therefrom when the goblet is tilted. In carrying out this feature, I preferably provide a cup or lining 22 of absorbent material, such as blotting paper or the like, having appropriate shape to fit nicely within the coaster covering the upper side and bottom wall It and the inside of upstanding wall l5. This lining 22 will function to retain the moisture where received and thus there will not be any free liquid flowing around within the coaster. Theabsorbent material likewise has the added function of forming a soft pad separating the material of the goblet foot from the material of which the coaster is formed and thereby reducing likelihood of breakage or chipping of the goblet foot. The lining 22 is preferably pre-formed, although not necessarily so, and is shown with a cut out 23 at one part of its sidewall for obtaining proper clearance for the retainer where said retainer passes through the sidewall of the coaster. The lining is readily replaceable, and it is preferable that a fresh lining be inserted after every use or washing of the goblet and coaster so that when the assembly is next used the lining will be both dry and clean.

While the above description is particularly .di-

rected. to a construction for use in connection with coasters applied to goblets, features of the invention are applicable to other types of drinking and other vessels. Illustrative of this fact, I have shown a tumbler 24 in Figs. 5 and 6 mounted in a coaster 25 and having an absorbent lining 26 between the coaster and the tumbler. In this instance, the said lining preferably flares, as at 21 at its upper rim so as to very positively receive. andabsorb -the..moisture atthe. outside of the tumbler. Suitable retaining means, such as the vertically disposed inwardly pressed leaf springs or fingers 28 are provided for securing the desired frictional contact between the coaster and tumbler.

As shown, these spring fingers 28 are integralat their upper ends with the side wall of the coaster and have their side and bottom *edges' free from the coaster wall so as to exert the desired spring tension. Benefits above described with respect to assembly and the parts thereof,:apply in connection with the assembly and parts of the disclosure of Figs. 5 to 7 likewise.

Obviously other detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of'my'improved coaster, and I do not wish to be wardly directed rim,'and a retainer projecting through said side wall and having an inwardly directed upper arm having a pair of yieldable legs extending across the coaster and in spreading apart adapted to engage said sidewall beneath said rim and thereby "mount both ends of the retainer with respect to the coaster.

3. A coaster comprising a bottom and side wall, said side wallat its upper edge having an inwardly directed rim, and a retainer projecting through'said side wall and having an inwardly directed upper. arm having a pair of yieldable legs extending across the coaster and in spreading apart adapted to engage said side wall beneathsaid rim and thereby mount both ends of the retainer with respect to the coaster, and an absorbentlining within said coaster.

LAYARD L. CAMPBELL. 

